Density, habitat use and activity patterns of the last giant armadillo population in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Basic data on the biology and ecology of the giant armadillo ( Priodontes maximus ) from the Atlantic Forest are practically non-existent. Information on population density and habitat use is vital to assess the long-term population viability and to design effective management and conservation strategies for the Atlantic Forest’s last population of the species. In this study, we estimated density and abundance, evaluated the influence of habitat features and human-altered habitats on the occupancy and detection probabilities of giant armadillos and investigated their activity patterns. Our study was conducted in a forested protected area, the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP) that represents one of the largest continuous remnants of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. We used a random survey design with a blocking arrangement of sampling units and found an estimate of 60.7 individuals (95